Automobile rain shield and supporting means therefor



Nov. 14, 1967 J. P. FRANCIS 3,352,599

AUTOMOBILE RAIN SHIELD AND SUPPORTING MEANS THEREFOR Criginal Filed July 13, 1965 F g. 1 I INVENTOR.

John P. Francis United States Patent 3,352,599 AUTOMOBILE RAIN SHIELD AND SUPPORTING MEANS THEREFOR John P. Francis, 20 Boston St., Haverhill, Mass. 01830 Original application July 13, 1965, Ser. No. 471,764, now Patent No. 3,281,182, dated Oct. 25, 1966. Divided and this application May 24, 1966, Ser. No. 569,774

3 Claims. (Cl. 296-95) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention provides weather protection to the wind shield of an automobile when the vehicle is in a parked position. The removably attached rain visor panel, and the removably attached longitudinally disposed visor supports with the attached roof engaging means, may be removably attached as a complete unit, or in part, to or from the roof top of the automobile.

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 471,764, filed July 13, 1965, now US. Patent No. 3,281,- 182, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 328,159, filed Dec. 3, 1963, now US. Patent No. 3,205,000. Visor supports and awning structures are shown and described in my application Ser. No. 328,159, now US. Patent No. 3,205,000. My invention therefore, is concerned primarily with modified embodiments of visor or rain shield supports.

This invention relates to windshield rain visors or rain shields and the rain shield supporting means for motor vehicles, and more particularly to a temporary or removable rain shield device for use in protecting the windshield area of the vehicle from rain, sleet, snow or ice when the vehicle is parked in a drive-in theatre, or any other outdoor parking area.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved rain shield and supporting members for a very quick and exceedingly simple attachment and removal, to and from the roof top of a motor vehicle, the entire device being very simple in construction and assembly, and very eliective in protecting the windshield area from any precipitation or elements of the weather.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rain shield which may be supported in free frictional and rain sealing engagement with the roof top, or, movably supported in a vertically spaced apart relationship relative to the roof top.

With these objects and still others in view, as will hereinafter more fully appear, the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View, in fragment, of the front portion of an automobile, the view including a perspective view of the rain shield and the supporting means for supporting the rain shield over the roof to and the windshield.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan vieW of the rain shield shown attached and supported onto the rain shield supports.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational cutaway View of the rain shield shown supported on a rain shield support which is supported from a pair of vacuum cups.

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view of a rain shield shown supported from a single rain shield support.

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of a corrugated-shaped rain shield shown supported to the underside of a rain shield support.

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational cutaway view of the corrugated-shaped rain shield shown supported by a modified form of a rain shield support.

Patented Nov. 14, 1967 FIGURE 7 is a rear, end elevational View of the cutaway portion of the modified form of rain shield support of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a front elevational view of a rain shield supported by another modification of a rain shield support.

FIGURE 9 is a rear, end elevational view of the rain shield support of FIGURE 8 without the bottom portion thereof.

FIGURE 10 is a rear, end elevational view of another modification of a rain shield support having only a top and a side wall; and

FIGURE 11 is a side elevational view of the rain shield support, showing the rear edge of the rain shield fric-- tionally engaging the roof top of an automobile,

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, attention is directed primarily to FIGURES 1, 2, 5 and 6, wherein numeral 10 generally indicates the rain shield, shown also specifically as rain shield 26 and 27. Numeral 11 generally indicates the rain shield supports, shown also specifically as supports 12, 13a, 13b and 14, and in FIG- URES 8, 9 and 10 as supports 15 and 16.

In FIGURE 1, a portion of an automobile 36 is shown with the rain shield 26, which in this embodiment is made of semi-rigid or rigid material, and which may be formed of a flexible material, and supported by the longitudinally disposed rain shield supports 11. The supports 11, shown specifically at the center as 12, and at the opposite lateral ends of the rain shield 26, as 13a and 13b, are supported on the roof top 35 by the vacuum cups 30.

To support the rain shield supports 11, first, the supporting means, comprising the roof engaging vacuum cups 30, with the attached vertically disposed threaded stud members 31, and the stud attached vertically adjustable lower 32 and upper 33 threaded nut members, are either removably or permanently attached to the roof top 35 at the desired location, laterally and longitudinally, as may be noted primarily from FIGURES l and 11.

The longitudinally disposed rain shield supports 11, FIGURES 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8, are formed of an upper wall 17, opposing side walls 18 and 19, and a bottom wall 20, on the forward portion thereof. FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 have the supports 11, formed the length thereof, with all of the said walls 17, 18, 19 and 20.

The rain shield support 11, FIGURE 3, is provided with a forward vertical aperture 21, and a rear vertical aperture 22, adapted to freely engage the vertical threaded stud members 31 therethrough. The vrain shield suuport 11 is adjustably supported by a pair of longitudinally spaced apart vacuum cups 30 attached to said stud members 31, and adjustably and vertically supported by each lower threaded nut member 32 and each upper threaded nut member 33. Vertically adjustable spaced apart, or, longitudinally angular adjustment of the rain shield support 11 is provided upon the vertical adjustment of the said threaded nut members 32 and 33 on the said threaded stud members 31.

In FIGURE 6, a modified rain shield support 14 is provided with a four wall forward portion 24, and a reduced or cutaway portion, as at 23, showing a portion of the bottom wall and opposing side walls removed therefrom. In this embodiment, the lower threaded nut members 32 thus engage the underside of the upper wall of the support 14, such as shown for example in FIGURES 7, 9, l0 and 11, whereby a rain shield 10 is supported from the underside of said support 14 in frictional supporting, or in rain sealing engagement with the roof top 35, as in FIGURE 11. s

In FIGURE 4, there is shown a rigid or semi-rigid rain shield 26 supported upon a single, centrally located rain shield support 11 having an upper wall, opposing side walls, and a bottom wall.

shield securing member 28 such as a threaded screw or bolt member.

' Referring to FIGURE 7, there is shown a rear, end

elevation view of the embodiment of FIGURE 6, wherein the rain shield support 14 has a portion of the bottom wall, and portions of the opposingside walls 18 and 19 removed, as at 23, also shown in FIGURES 6 and 11.

Referring to FIGURE 9, there is shown a rear, end elevation view of the embodiment of FIGURE 8, wherein the rain shield support 15 has a portion of the bottom wall, and portions of the opposing side walls 18 and 19 removed, as at 23a.

The reduced or cutaway portions 23 or 23a, FIGURES 6, 7, 9 and 11, enables the rain shield support 11 to be supported in vertical spaced relation above the roof top 35, at 23 or 23a. The bottom wall 20 of the said support 11 supportably engages the roof top 35, directly or indirectly, depending upon whether the rain shield 10 is removably attached above or below the rain shield support 11.

In FIGURE 11, the rain shield 10 is shown supported over the roof top 35 and the windshield area 34 of an automobile 36. The rear lateral edge 29 of rainshield 10 is shown supported in frictional supporting engagement with the roof top 35 and adapted to provide rain sealing engagement with the roof top.

Referring-to FIGURE 10, there is shown another modification of a rain shield support 16 having only a top wall 17 and a side wall 19, and supported in the .same manner as the other rain shield supports.

Referring back to FIGURE 6, the corrugated rain shield .27 is shown attached to the underside of the support 14 by the threaded securing members 28 engaged to the apertures 25 of support 14. I

In FIGURE 2, which is a top plan view, the rain shield 26 is shown supported upon a number of rain shield supports 12, 13a, and 1312, as in FIGURE 1. One or more rain shield supports 11, such as support 12 alone, or single supports .as shown in FIGURES 4, and 8, may be used to support a rain shield 10.

It is quite obvious that the rain shield may be supported against the forward edge of the roof top, or supported downwardly on the roof top, or supported in spaced apart relationship relative to the roof top. The location or manner of support of the said rain shield 10 depends upon the longitudinal location of the vacuum cups 30, or the structural form of rain shield support 11 used, or the attachment of the rain shield 10 either above or below the said support 11, or the vertical adjustment of the threaded nut members 32 and 33 on the vertical threaded stud members 31.

The rigid or semi-rigid rain shield 10 may be constructed of plastic, sheet metal, waterproof cardboard, thin Masonite, or any other suitable preferably thin and light material. It is readily seen that a fully flexible or fabric rain shield may be supported upon the three rain shield supports 11, such as in FIGURES l and 2.

A side elevation view of the rain shield support 11, FIGURE 3, and in FIGURE 5 a top plan view of a corrugated rain shield 27 supported to the underside of a rain shield support, is adapted to provide frictional supporting engagement of the rain shield 27 on the roof top without any reduced or cutaway rear portion 23 or 23a on the support 11. This is accomplished when the corrugated rain shield 27 is of sufiicient vertical height in the alternate ridges and grooves, and the vacuum cups 39 reduced in vertical height construction. 7

The rain shield device may be removably attached on the roof top over the rear window, or supported laterally to protect an open window, as for example while parked in a drive-in restaurant area.

The exceptional simplicity in the complete structure and removable atatchment of the rain shield device to and from the roof top of an automobile; the numerous advantages in the various methods of erection and attachment on the roof top; the various types of weather protection provided, and; these benefits all enjoyed and benefitted by both the management and the patrons during inclement weather conditions, while viewing outdoor movies or the like, or other outdoor activities.

While certain embodiments of my invention have been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various ,modifications may occurto those skilled in the art. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement, may be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A rain shield for the windshield of a motor vehicle secured to the roof top thereof comprising a removably attached rain shield panel, longitudinally disposed rain shield supports, each of said supports having a front portion and a rear portion, said front portion including longi t udinally extending upper, bottom, and opposing side walls forming each of said supports, said rear portion of each of said supports having an upper wall, opposed side walls having a smaller vertical height than said side-walls of said front portion, and an open bottom, said rainshield panel being removably attached onto the upper surface of said upper wall of said supports, roof engaging means mounted on the roof top and extending upwardly between the said opposing smaller side walls and engaging the underside of the said upper wall of the rear portion of said rain shield support in supporting said support therefrom and over the roof top and the windshield area, saidsup} port having the rear portion of the said bottom wall of said front portion thereof in frictional supporting engage shield support having a front portion and a rear portion,

said rain shield panel being removably attached to the underside of said support, the rear portion of said rain shield support being smaller in vertical height than said front portion to allow engagement of said rear portion with roof engaging means for providing frictional supporting engagement of the rear extreme lower and vertically larger portionof said front portion of said support on the upper side of the said rain shield panel with the underside thereof frictionally engaged against the roof top, said roof engaging means mounted on the roof top and engaging the underside of the said vertically smaller portion of the rear portion of said rain shield support in supporting said support therefrom and over the roof top and the windshield area, said rain shield support supporting V the said rain shield panel with the rear lateral portion of said panel being supported in frictional supporting and rain sealing engagement with the lateral portion of the roof top and extending over the windshield area in providing weather protection thereto.

3. A rain shield for the windshield of a motor vehicle secured to the roof top thereof comprising a removably attached rain shield panel, longitudinally disposed rain shield supports, each of said supports having a front portion and a rear portion, said front portion including longitudinally extending upper, bottom, and opposing side walls forming each of said supports, said rain shield panel being removably attached to the underside of said supports, said rear portion of each of said rain shield supports having an upper Wall, opposed side Walls having a smaller vertical height than said side walls of said front portion, and an open bottom, said upper wall portion of said support engaging roof engaging means for providing frictional supporting engagement of the rear extreme loW- er and vertically larger portion of said front portion of said support on the upper side of the said rain shield panel with the underside thereof frictionally engaged against the roof top, said :roof engaging means mounted on the roof top and engaging the underside of the upper Wall of the said vertically smaller portion of the rear portion of said rain shield support in supporting said support therefrom and over the roof top and the windshield area,

said rain shield support supporting the said rain shield panel with the rear lateral portion of said panel being supported in frictional supporting and rain sealing engagement With the lateral portion of the roof top and extending over the windshield area in providing Weather protection thereto.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,815,244 12/1957 Francis 29695 2,989,339 6/1961 Southall 296-95 BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

I. A. PEKAR, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A RAIN SHIELD FOR THE WINDSHIELD OF A MOTOR VEHICLE SECURED TO THE ROOF TOP THEREOF COMPRISING A REMOVABLY ATTACHED RAIN SHIELD PANEL, LONGITUDINALLY DISPOSED RAIN SHIELD SUPPORTS, EACH OF SAID SUPPORTS HAVING A FRONT PORTION AND A REAR PORTION, SAID FRONT PORTION INCLUDING LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING UPPER, BOTTOM, AND OPPOSING SIDE WALLS FORMING EACH OF SAID SUPPORTS, SAID REAR PORTION OF EACH OF SAID SUPPORTS HAVING AN UPPER WALL, OPPOSED SIDE WALLS HAVING A SMALLER VERTICAL HEIGHT THAN SAID SIDE WALLS OF SAID FRONT PORTION, AND AN OPEN BOTTOM, SAID RAIN SHIELD PANEL BEING REMOVABLY ATTACHED ONTO THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID UPPER WALL OF SAID SUPPORTS, ROOF ENGAGING MEANS MOUNTED ON THE ROOF TOP AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY BETWEEN THE SAID OPPOSING SMALLER SIDE WALLS AND ENGAGING THE UNDERSIDE OF THE SAID UPPER WALL OF THE REAR PORTION OF SAID RAIN SHIELD SUPPORT IN SUPPORTING SAID SUPPORT THEREFROM AND OVER THE ROOF TOP AND THE WINDSHIELD AREA, SAID SUPPORT HAVING THE REAR PORTION OF THE SAID BOTTOM WALL OF SAID FRONT PORTION THEREOF IN FRICTIONAL SUPPORTING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ROOF TOP, SAID RAIN SHIELD SUPPORTS SUPPORTING SAID REMOVABLY ATTACHED RAIN SHIELD PANEL OVER THE WINDSHIELD AREA AND IN VERY CLOSE SPACED RELATIONSHIP RELATIVE TO THE ROOF TOP IN PROVIDING WEATHER PROTECTION TO THE WINDSHIELD AREA. 